Visual Arts

At the end of the year, the exhibition spaces of the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre shall host a series of manifestations within the framework of the programme NTB Paratheatrical – Visual Arts. On Tuesday, 19th December 2017, from 3.00 p.m., the Rotunda of the foyer to the Small Hall of NTB shall host the opening of "SIAN- The National Salon for Naive Art" (arrived at its 14th edition), organised in partnership with the National Heritage Institute (INP) within the framework of the Ministry of Culture and National Identity. It is a biennial exhibition, mainly aiming at promoting the most valuable works of native artists from Romania and abroad, ensuring a remarkable continuity of the multiannual programme for the Revival of traditional crafts and the promotion of artistic creativity, held by INP. The exhibition shall remain open until 19th January 2018. The audience’s access shall be made through the Carol Blvd.                     The foyers at the first and second floors of the NTB Studio Hall shall host, still on 19th December 2017, from 6.00 p.m., the opening of a photo-documentary exhibition of great interest, devoted to the personality of Queen Mary of Romania, entitled The Soldier Queen. The project, introducing the anniversary of the Centenary of the Great Unification, is organised by the Cultural Romania Association in partnership with the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre, with the support of the Romanian Academy Library, of the National Library of Romania, of the National Military Museum and the National Archives of Romania, which provided the organisers with a rich photo-documentary stock, which shall be exhibited for the first time. In the Media Foyer (Tudor Arghezi wing), on Thursday, 21st December 2017, 7.00 p.m., the exhibition of painter Ion Gîtlan shall be varnished, participant in the 1989 Revolution and father of the first Martyr Hero killed at the Dalles Hall on 21st December. The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of the ones perished in the Revolution of December 1989. The exhibition remains open until 12th January 2018.  In the Media Foyer (Intercontinental wing), the audience shall be able to view, until the end of January 2018, the painting exhibition of the well-known poet Marin Sorescu (varnished in October 2017), on which Acad. Eugen Simion states in the preface to the catalogue published on that occasion that it represents ”a beautiful and serious explosion of innocence and intelligent affection”.

The National Heritage Institute, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and National Identity, organizes the International Salon of Naïve Art, the 14th edition, in the time frame 19 December 2017 – 19 January 2018, at the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest. The exhibition shall be itinerant in Iaşi, in the time frame 2 – 25 February 2018. The 2017 Edition of the International Salon of Naïve Art reunites works of naïve artists from Romania and abroad. SIAN, taking place every two years, belongs to the multiannual exhibition programme of the institute. The exhibition, open around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, is both manifold and artistically motivated – a plethora of styles, lively compositions, many animated elements, tackling varied subjects, from holiday customs, scenes from the village life, urban scenes to imaginary stories. On the picture rails, some of the most appreciated naïve artists shall be present, originating from: Finland, Germany, Italy, Israel, Serbia and from Romania. The most valuable works shall be awarded by a jury of experts. The exhibition shall be varnished in Bucharest - Tuesday, 19th December 2017, 3.00 p.m. at the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre – Small Hall, 2 Nicolae Bălcescu Blvd., Bucharest (access is made through the Tudor Arghezi St.). The exhibition shall be open in the time frame 19 December 2017 – 19 January 2018, from 11.00 - 18.30, from Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance is free. Partners: the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, the County Centre for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Iaşi For additional information: tel./fax no.: 021/3366073, extension 107; extension 115   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

  The exhibition Made in CZ / Found in RO, organised by the Czech Centre in collaboration with the National Theatre of Bucharest, features Czechoslovak design objects manufactured in the last 100 years, which were imported in Romania over time. The Czech Centre has gathered objects produced in Czechoslovakia which compose a well-shaped collection, uniform, but with manifold elements. The exhibits are only meant to represent a historical facet of product design, but also the aesthetical side of ordinary products used in daily life. Each of us remembers certain furniture or decoration objects, dishes or houseware we found in the grandparents’ house. Certainly at least one of these objects had Czechoslovak origins or was inspired by the specific aesthetics and technology. The roots of the traditions of Czechoslovak design stem from the period following the First World War, when the freshly formed Czechoslovak Republic had launched a period of creativity and flourishing in the field of architecture and design. Influences originated from the functionalism of the Bauhaus and Art Deco style, thus combining high-quality materials with rigid forms, straight edges, lacking ornaments without an additional practical component. Over time, furniture pieces, lamps, bottles with cleaning solutions, even saws or roulettes have taken over in their design an aesthetic substratum blended with the functionality specific for each object. Furthermore, their mass production has determined their extension in the Eastern European area, and even more in the Eastern Bloc countries. Therefore, a variety of objects has also arrived to Romania, being integrated into daily life. An example is the lamp type 11126 designed by Eric Kirkham Cole, which was manufactured by EKCO Ltd in the thirties. Ever since, the lamp has come a long way, finally being authorized for mass production in Czechoslovakia. This was a very popular model, especially due to its adjustable arm and saddle. The opening of the exhibition is part of the reception for the national holiday of the Czech Republic, 26th October 2017, from 5:00 p.m. The exhibition is open until 15th December 2017, in the rotunda of the NTB Small Hall. Event organised by the Czech Centre and the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre of Bucharest.   Main sponsor: BCR Media partners: Radio Romania Cultural, AGERPRES, Zeppelin magazine, The Institute, Intervio.ro, Metropolis newspaper, Balkan Insight   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

  20 years since the passing away of the unrivalled visual artist Georgeta Năpăruș, the beauty-loving audience shall have the occasion to see, gathered in a graphic exhibition, works signed by her in her last years of life, borrowed from the Grigorescu Family Collection. Entitled Letters and Characters – Georgeta Năpăruș, the exhibition, organised by Colony Art Gallery in partnership with the National Theatre (within the framework of the programme NTB-Paratheatrical – Visual Arts), shall be varnished on Wednesday, 20th September 2017, from 6.00 p.m. in the lobby of the Media Hall (Intercontinental), where it can be viewed until 24th October 2017. On this occasion, an album shall also be released, containing reproductions of these works, with a preface by art critic Pavel Șușară, who shall also be present at the opening in order to present the exhibition. ”For almost fourty years, throughout her career extended between 1957 and 1996, Georgeta Năpăruș has been known for her paintings. In the nineties, she started experimenting with art as an object („The Horse” from MNAC, the bread figures, the go tablet, the painted abaci). In her last two years of life, limited in her movement due to the disease, she produced at least 120 drawings and water colours, which are today owned by some private collections. The present exhibition features approximately half of this œuvre, shedding a light on a new and surprisingly vivid side of the artist’s work. The drawings are more present than in the beginnings, although they are born under the threat of the ending, in a low-key tribute paid to creativity.” Ilie Grigorescu ”Apparently derived from the folk epos and the narrative succulence of the rural imagination, as a simple playful exercise or a mere tremendous and self-sufficient display, the compositions of Georgeta Năpăruş are, in fact, ample comments on creation, on generative energies and the necessity of being – Pavel Șușară comments in the preface to the album. Like the Creator Himself, who does not choose, does not explain and does not take sides, Georgeta Năpăruş contemplates everything with the same amazement and with matching love (…). Georgeta Năpăruş knows how to conjugate unmistakably the feeling of duration with the iridescences of the instant, the archetypal with spontaneity and the strict statement with the exaltation of the gaze”. The exhibition can be visited daily from 11.00 – 19.00, except for Mondays. The audience’s access is made through the foyer of the NTB Studio Hall, next to the box office or directly from the esplanade leading to the Media and Painting Halls.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

  The Yearly Salon of the Advertising Graphic Subsidiary of the Plastic Artists’ Union of Romania 22nd Edition In line with the tradition of collaborations and partnerships with the Creators’ Unions of Romania, the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest and the Advertising Graphic Subsidiary of the Plastic Artists’ Union of Romania invite you to the 22nd edition of the Yearly Salon of this subsidiary which shall be opened on Tuesday, 19 September 2017 at 6.00 p.m. in the Rotunda in the Small Hall foyer at NTB. Under the generic title Applied Arts, numerous artists shall exhibit in this Salon, members of the Artists’ Union of Romania, creators of book illustrations, of cultural, commercial and satirical posters, of humorous drawings, advertising pages, as well as other genres. ”The First Applied Arts Salon organized by the Graphic Subsidiary of the Plastic Artists’ Union of Romania took place in 1996. Since then up to the present day, we, the members of the Subsidiary, have strived for this artistic manifestation to become tradition. So that this year, our Salon of Applied Arts shall celebrate its 22nd anniversary and we are thrilled that this event shall be hosted by one of the generous halls of the National Theatre”, declares Vasile Olac, President of the Subsidiary. The opening shall take place on 19 September 2017, at 6.00 p.m., in the Rotunda of the Small Hall foyer of NTB! Introduction by art critic Virgil Mocanu. The exhibition shall be open from 20 September - 15 October 2017. Visiting schedule: daily from 11.00 – 19.00, except for Mondays. Access through the Carol Boulevard Exhibition produced in partnership with the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre, within the framework of the NTB-Paratheatrical – Visual Arts programme. Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

Private event hosted by the National Theatre of Bucharest. The organiser is exclusively liable for the quality and content of this event! The exhibition shall be open in the time frame 9th June – 2nd July 2017     On Friday, 9th June 2017, from 6.00 p.m., the Rotunda of the Small Hall foyer of the din ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest shall host the opening of the fourth edition of the Romanian Photographer Salon. The organisation of this Salon – aiming at supporting Romanian photography schools, but also independent photographers – is courtesy of the Art and Image Cultural Association, non-profit organization founded in the year 2015 for the organisation of cultural events in the field of fine arts, especially photography, but not limited to this form of visual expression. It directly took over the organisation of the previous edition, from 2016, of the Romanian Photographer Salon and wishes to also get involved in the organisation of other national events in partnership with similar European associations. It is committed to supporting young talents in the field of photography, especially those with scarce possibilities to have a personal exhibition. The National Theatre exhibition, unique through the proposed concept, shall gather the works of numerous Romanian photographers from all generations, approaching all photographic genres (nature, journalism, portrait, urban, event, conceptual, etc.) wishing to present the faithful mirror of what Romanian photography means at a certain point, including getting the audience acquainted with the existence of manifold ”schools” of photography currently active in Romania. For this reason, the condition imposed itself ever since the third edition, that all exhibited photographs are to be taken in the year of the respective edition The exhibition shall contain at least 100 works in the format 70cm x 50cm, printed by the AME design * company, in a traditional photographic technology (exposure on photosensitive material and chemical development) and finished in the shape of pictures with thin aluminium frames, all production costs being covered by this company, who is thus sponsor of this event. The exhibition shall be open to the public until 2nd July 2017 and can be visited daily between 14.00 – 19.00, except for Mondays. The audience’s access to the exhibition Rotunda shall be made from the Small Hall entrance to NTB, from the Carol Blvd. About AME design AME design is an undisputed market leader regarding large-scale and high-resolution print quality, featuring total lack of print lines, very high colour densities, the RGB colour range (with specific profiles for each material), very high printing speed, the lack of the raster dot, because it uses a technology in continuous tones, traditionally photographic (exposure on photosensitive materials and development in developer and fixer), thus resulting in an apparent resolution of 4000 DPI on mat, glossy and metallic paper for front lighting applications and on transparent (duraclear) and translucent (duratrans) film for backlighting applications. Beside printing on these materials, the company is specialised in the application of the printed material on diverse rigid surfaces (coating) or the framing of photographs with wooden or aluminium frames, including the well-known aluminium profile ultralight, which shall also be applied to all pictures from the exhibition The Romanian Photographer Salon, sponsored by AME design. Translated by Simona Nichiteanu

The exhibition Days of Fire Arts is organised on the occasion of the third edition of the Open Ateliers of Ceramics, Glass and Metal. On Friday, 28 April 2017, from 7:00 p.m., the foyer of the Media Hall, namely the wing towards Tudor Arghezi street, shall host the varnishing of the exhibition and the launch of the catalogue Days of Fire Arts: the event, organised within the framework of the Contemporaries Cultural Project alongside the Romanian Cultural Institute – in its capacity as co-organiser, and in partnership with the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, shall gather works signed by 21 artists specialised in ceramics, glass and metal. The exhibitors shall be Ciprian Ariciu (ceramics), Csaba Barabás (ceramics), Vlad Basarab (ceramics), Adela Bonaț (ceramics), Lucian Butucariu (glass), Alina Băncilă (glass-metal), Dan Băncilă (glass-metal), Maria Roxana Cioată (ceramics), Cristina Ciobanu (ceramics), Gherghina Costea (ceramics), Cristian Dobrescu (ceramics), Anca Vintilă Dragu (ceramics), Daniela Făiniș (ceramics), Marian Gheorghe (metal), Elena Lupu (ceramics), Călin Mușat (metal), Nicolae Moldovan, (ceramics), David Leonid Olteanu (ceramics-glass), Monica Pădureț (ceramics), Victor Olivier Săraru (glass-metal), Iulian Vîrtopeanu (ceramics). The following shall take the floor in the opening: Ion Caramitru, General Manager of NTB, Constantin Hoștiuc, art critic and Maria Pașc, curator of the exhibition. The exhibition shall accompany the third edition of the Days of Fire Arts (ZAF) throughout its duration and is created in the hope to enchant the eyes of beauty lovers, encouraging them at the same time to visit the ateliers of the exhibiting artists. The exhibition Days of Fire Arts can be visited in the time frame 28 April – 28 May 2017, during the working hours of the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest (daily from 14.00 - 18.30, except for Mondays). The access is made through the entrances towards the Media and Painting Halls at the NTB façade towards the Bălcescu Blvd.   Contemporaries is a project initiated and conducted by the Makers Association, aiming at the capitalization of current Romanian culture by favouring the creative act, tackled from a perspective unitary with the creator. The Contemporaries project aims at organising and supporting artistic and socio-cultural activities for educating the audience’s aesthetic sensibility.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

The Photography Exhibition „Elements of Nature” by Her Royal Highness, Princess Sophie of Romania   On Wednesday, 26 April 2017, at 7.00 p.m., the foyer of the Media Hall of the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, the wing towards the Intercontinental Hotel, shall host the opening of the photography exhibition Elements of Nature created by Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie of Romania. The exhibition comprises 50 photographic landscapes taken by Princess Sophie in France, Bretagne, over the last two years, by means of which Her Royal Highness unravels the beauty of nature and of the environment we inhabit. Furthermore, on the same occasion, the collection of 36 art photographs Ultramarine shall be launched, as postcards, bearing the signature of Princess Sophie, edited by Curtea Veche Publishing. The photographs have been taken by Princess Sophie in Bretagne and feature the ocean as main topic. The Ultramarine collection of postcards can be purchased at the book-stand of the Curtea Veche Publishing House, organised in the foyer of the Media Hall. In the opening, the following shall take the floor: Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie, Ion Caramitru, General Manager of NTB, Master Ştefan Câlţia, Mrs. Iren Arsen, manager of the Curtea Veche Publishing House. The exhibition „Elements of Nature” can be visited in the time frame 26 April – 10 May 2017, during the working hours of the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest (daily from 14.00 - 18.30, except for Mondays). Access is made through the entrances towards the Media and Painting Halls, at the NTB façade towards the Bălcescu Blvd. The exhibition is organised in partnership with the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, with the support of the Ionescu and Sava Law Firm. Princess Sophie has created over time a series of photographic landscapes, attesting her talent and craftsmanship. Her Royal Highness intends to inaugurate next year an artistic photography exhibition with Romanian landscapes in the four seasons. More details about the photographic creations of Her Royal Highness are available on the website www.sophiederoumanie.com *** Her Royal Highness Princess Sofia is the fourth daughter of King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania. Princess Sophie was born in Athens, Greece, on 29 October 1957. She studied in Switzerland and Great Britain, then in the United States, she has taken Fine Arts courses at the University North Carolina, Ashevillle, and of graphic design and photography at the Corcoran College of Art and Design of Washington, DC. For a long period, Princess Sophie has successfully worked and exhibited works of art, on both shores of the Atlantic. After the fall of communism in Romania, in December 1989, Princess Sophie has left the United States and has returned to her family house in Switzerland, in order to help her father. She played an important role in the consolidation of the Versoix Secretariat, alongside her sister, Heiress Princess Margaret. In January 1990, Princess Sophie and Princess Margaret have set foot on Romanian land for the first time. They have discovered a society deeply marked by the communist era. The Princesses have decided to lay the groundwork for the Princess Margaret Foundation of Romania, in order to support sustainable projects in the fields of education, community development, civil society and culture, projects contributing to Romania’s spiritual and social renewal. In her capacity as Vice-President of the Foundation, Princess Sophie has played a vital role in the identification of major projects, in fundraising campaigns all over the United States, in the organisation of humanitarian aid. Furthermore, Princess Sophie has contributed to the promotion of the Foundation’s activity at international level. In 1995, Princess Sophie has published, in Bucharest, a fairytale book for children, illustrated by young Romanian artists. All revenues obtained were ceded to the Foundation for projects aiming at supporting children. The daughter of Princess Sophie, Elisabeth-Maria Biarneix, was born in Argenteuil, France, in 1999. The Princess has baptised her daughter after the two Queens of Romania, Queen Elisabeth and Queen Mary. Currently, Princess Sophie lives in France, together with her daughter.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

“Toma and His Kinsmen”, Geta Caragiu Sculpture and Drawing Exhibition in the NTB Rotunda On Tuesday, 7 March 2017, from 6.00 p.m., an extensive sculpture and drawing exhibition of the well-known artist Geta Caragiu shall be varnished in the Rotunda of the Small Hall foyer of the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest. The opening shall take place in the presence of the artist and shall be prefaced by Ion Caramitru, general manager of NTB. Born in 1929, in an old family of Aromanians, Geta Caragiu Gheorghiță is the younger sister of the actor Toma Caragiu, who passed away tragically 40 years ago in the earthquake of March 1977 and of Matilda Caragiu–Marioțeanu (1927-2009), prominent academician and philologist, exceptional personalities who left their unmistakable mark on the culture of this country. Aged 88, sculptress Geta Caragiu does not tire of still leaving deep marks in Romanian sculpture. She was a professor at the „Nicolae Grigorescu” Institute for Visual Arts of Bucharest, sculpture department, counting among her students Aurel Vlad, Adrian Ioniță, Ion Mândrescu, Gheorghe Zărnescu, Liviu Brezeanu etc. She is the authoress of numerous public sculptures, citing among others The Equestrian Statue of Mihai the Brave from Oradea, placed in 1994 in the Union Square of Oradea; The Bust of Grigore Antipa, inaugurated in 1995 in the Tulcea Municipality or the statue of historian Vasile Pârvan, located in front of the History Museum of Bacău County – all achieved together with sculptor Alexandru Gheorghiță, her husband. She also created the bronze bust of Toma Caragiu, unveiled in Ploiești on 15 November 2000, when the great actor would have turned 75. She is at the same time the authoress of countless small-size sculptures, being awarded, among others, a Prize for Excellence for the work Shrine at the „Constantin Brâncuși” International Salon for Small Sculpture at the Art Museum of Târgu Jiu (2008). The exhibition at the National Theatre, significantly entitled Toma and His Kinsmen – perpetual tribute paid to the deceased brother – shall feature for the first time not only sculptures, but also a series of drawings by Geta Caragiu. The exhibition shall be open until 18 April 2017 and can be visited daily, except for Mondays, from 2.00 - 7.00 p.m.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

  The National Institute for Heritage, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, is organising the third edition of the national exhibition The Icon- Faith and Tradition. The exhibition gathers some of the most beautiful icons on glass and wood, worked by folk creators from Romania. The ongoing project is also a way of promoting icon masters, keepers of this ancient artistic craft. The event is an occasion for the audience to encounter contemporary iconographic art and the works of some appreciated masters from Romania, including: the winner of the title Living Human Treasure - Nicu Muntean, Maria Colhon, (Alba), Mihaela Bădescu, Cecilia Florică Cişmaşu, Stela Costache, Liviu Florin Dumitrescu, Fabian Gavriluţiu, Maria Măciucă, Ileana Ometiță, Cristina Pui, Valeriu Stoica, Mioara Trandafira (Bucharest), Elena Băniceru, Florian Colea (Dâmboviţa), Silvia Săcăleanu și Costel Iftinchi (Iași), Elena Popa, Andrada Matei, Maria Voicu, (Ilfov), Ana Negoiţă and Ioana Negoiţă (Sibiu) etc. The varnishing shall take place on Thursday, 15 December, from 3.00 p.m. The exhibition shall be open in Bucharest, in the time frame 15 December 2016 - 12 January 2017, at the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre, in the Media Hall Gallery, 2 Nicolae Bălcescu Blvd. Visiting schedule: daily, from 11.00 - 18.30, apart from legal holidays. In the time frame 18 January - 6 February 2017, shortlisted works from the exhibition shall be displayed in Iaşi, in partnership with the County Centre for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Iași and Palas Mall. Partners: the County Centre for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Iași and Palas Mall      Translated by Simona Nichiteanu